Educational aid

How do I apply for a government-guaranteed student loan?

Publié le null - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

You are a student and you need to borrow money to finance your studies? The government-guaranteed student loan allows you to borrow to finance expenses related to student life (tuition fees, computer equipment, etc.) without having to provide the bank with a bond from a relative or proof of income. Discover this type of loan with Service-Public.fr.

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Who can benefit?

The student loan guaranteed by the State is open to all students, without means-tested conditions and without parental or third-party guarantees.

It's a consumer loan. Insurance is not required for this type of loan.

The requirements for applying are as follows:

  • be of age;
  • be under the age of 28 at the time of taking out the loan;
  • be a French national or a national of the European Union or of a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA);
  • be enrolled in an establishment with a view to preparing a competition or a diploma of French higher education (university, business school, engineering school, high school for BTS, etc.).

Amount and duration of the loan

The maximum amount of the loan is €20,000.

The duration of the loan is defined by the granting bank: it is a minimum of 2 years and may not exceed 10 years.

Warning  

The student loan guaranteed by the government is not a zero-interest loan, you will have to pay interest, the rate of which is set directly by the bank granting the loan.

Terms and conditions for taking out the loan

To qualify for the student loan, you must identify a bank that has signed an agreement with the public investment bank (BPI).

You can apply for the loan from one of these banks even if you are not a client (some banks refuse the files of external applicants). The Commission decides whether and under what conditions the loan is granted (banks retain discretion in the final choice of beneficiaries in the light of the file submitted by the interested parties in support of their application).

You will then have to send the chosen bank a pre-eligibility certificate, to be requested on the dedicated platform.

Partner banks are:

  • general business
  • People's Bank
  • Savings bank
  • Mutual credit
  • Industrial and Commercial Credit (ICC)
  • Farm Credit
  • Postal Bank
  • French commercial bank Indian Ocean (BFCOI), mainly in Reunion and Mayotte.

What about the refund?

The repayment schedule is decided with the bank when the loan is taken out. The student's repayment of the entire loan, plus interest, usually begins after the end of the studies. However, it is possible to prepay during your studies.

FYI  

The State guarantees for each contractor 70 % of the total amount of the loan, excluding interest. The remaining 30% is covered by the banks.

An application for a loan may be refused by the bank if it considers that the applicant will not be able to repay it, even with the State guarantee.

For full terms and conditions on the government-guaranteed student loan, see the card de Service- Public.fr.

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